Date:	Sun, 29 Jan 1995 21:05:53 -1000
From:	tanaka_be@swam1.enet.dec.com (Bert Tanaka)
Message-Id: <9501300704.AA08336@mts-gw.pa.dec.com>
Organization: Harvard University Office of Information Technology
Subject: New Products - Kite Video

Flight School II is the follow up video to Dodd Gross's Flight School I.
FS II is a "How To" for learning a few of the basic techniques to some of
the more advanced maneuvers.  The six steps is a hierarchial approach to
learning where one learned skill builds the foundation for making the 
next skill easier to learn.  For all of us on the net with those "how
do you that?" type of questions, this video is excellent.

First of all, the maneuvers shown are really good examples of what the
maneuver should look like when they're done well.  Full amplitude, 
precise angles, and sharp, distinct movement.  The turns show clean
angles, and true horizontals and verticals.  The stalls halt the kite with 
the wingtips perfectly horizontal.  The cartwheel is done while keeping
the body of the kite in the vertical plane and doing the full roll on
the ground.  Despite the easy going and fun oriented delivery, all
examples were executed with the full blown accuracy of a formal competition 
maneuver - which I liked very much.

Secondly, the techniques demonstrated have passed the trial by fire test
by being developed under the scrutiny of world classs competition.  I.E.,
in 5 mph wind, nearly any technique will work when you want to stall a
kite.  Heavy wind will quickly expose faulty technique, though.  Dodd's
competition record speaks for itself.

Personally, the thing that impressed me the most was the presentation on
the snap stall.  The snap stall is the root move to a whole family of
related maneuvers that include: side slide variants, tip stabs, entry 
into side window turtles, center window stab landings, and the base move
for any maneuver that requires a solid stall to set it up (i.e., stall-wrap, 
flat axel, stall-burst).  Its a difficult move to explain properly, but this 
video does it extremely well.  I've made it required viewing for my team.

Its available from DJ Sportkites at: (800) 296-KITE, and (717) 246-1214.

Good Winds,
Bert


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